460 belt walk

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Nov 19, 2006 | 10:49 PM

55 dude

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460 belt walk

hey fellow ford truckers! i have a 1990 e-350 with 460/f.i. p.s.,pdb.,air. i replaced the 2 belts today because the ps./air. serpentine belt kept coming off and they were both in need off being replaced. after removing them and checking pulleys (nothing is making noise) the only componet that had any movement was the ps. pump. had fellow mech. check and seemed normal. after installing belts and upon inital startup i noticed the belt that had been coming off ps./air. was walking foward on the air cond. pump. reinstalled belt 3 times with same result: it kept walking. after further inspection looked at wear pattern on belt tenioner and noticed it was on the side of the belt's walking direction. could the tenioner be causing belt to walk? any help would be great. thanks

Nov 22, 2006 | 06:29 PM

airharley

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From: Escondido, CA

If the tensioner pulley it not flat then yes it will push the belt off. Think of it like a bicycle chain when you were a kid. If you popped your chain off all you did was start it on the sprocket then crank the pedals to get it back on.

Nov 23, 2006 | 03:51 PM

55 dude

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just thought i would ask someone before i went wrong direction and wasted my time and bucks on wrong thing. thanks

Aug 28, 2010 | 07:07 PM

ron_a_tron

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I'm dealing with the same problem on my 94' f250 xlt 7.5l. I just replaced the tensioner pulley and no luck, just keeps walking off the ac compresor. I'm going to be ordering a ac delete kit tommorow.

Aug 29, 2010 | 07:28 AM

85lebaront2

Old School Hot Rodder

Joined: Feb 2006

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From: Exmore, VA

I haven't had as much experiance with the 460 setup (I will be soon), but other engines I have had similar problems with (Chrysler FWD 3.3/3,8L) the tensioner itself would develop enough wear that it would tilt causing the tensioner pully to sit at an angle. Keep in mind the belt "feeds" onto the AC pulley from the tensioner.

With the belt off, see if the tensioner arm has any play in and out at the pulley end and the attachment bolt is tight.

One other thing, use a straight edge to check all the pulleys concerned, starting at the crank. Check your AC pulley for any wobble, these have a double row ball bearing.

ron_a_tron, if it is your tensioner, the AC delete kit won't fix it.

Aug 29, 2010 | 09:50 AM

55 dude

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i solved the issue by changing both the tensioner and belt both. was told that serpentine belt wears to tensioner so even with the tensioner replaced sometimes the belt wear pattern will give you grief by walking off.